Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Linebackers: Salary Rankings

Linebackers are largely an afterthought among the highest-paid NFL players; no linebackers are scheduled to earn anywhere near the $30 million required to be one of the 10 highest-paid players.

Despite the absence of mega salaries – and their absence on rosters of teams atop Super Bowl odds at the online sportsbook – more linebackers are making more money than ever before, i.e., more linebackers have total cash numbers of $10 million and $15 million than in any previous season. 

By total cash, here are the highest-paid NFL linebackers for 2022:

Highest-Paid NFL Linebackers: Salary Rankings, 2022

1. Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars

The highest-paid NFL edge rusher, Travon Walker has a fully guaranteed four-year, $37.4-million rookie contract after his selection as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Nearly all of his rookie cash number comes from a $24.4-million signing bonus.

Travon Walker career earnings: $0

2. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Watt isn’t the $36-million man he was last year, but the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year will still earn $24 million in 2022, the first year of a four-year, $112-million deal that runs through 2025.

T.J. Watt career earnings: $45,852,038

3. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers

Joey Bosa is now two years removed from a staggering cash number of $43 million in 2020, the final year of his rookie deal before his five-year, $135-million officially began in 2021. 

If he plays out the remainder of the deal, Bosa will earn another $24 million in 2023, $22 million in 2024, and $25.4 million in 2025.

Joey Bosa career earnings: $82,644,417

4. Harold Landry, Tennessee Titans

Harold Landry’s career season – career-high 12 sacks in 2021 – led to a five-year, $87.5-million contract, making him a $20-million edge rusher in 2022.

Landry never earned more than $3.5 million in any of his first four NFL seasons.

Harold Landry career earnings: $7,768,458

5. Von Miller, Buffalo Bills

Von Miller might’ve signed a six-year, $120-million deal with Buffalo, but it seems unlikely the 33-year-old will play out the entirety of the deal, which includes just $51.4 million guaranteed and small dead salary cap hits in both 2025 ($7.4 million) and 2026 ($3.7 million).

Von Miller career earnings: $144,475,534

6. Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

Khalil Mack has three years remaining on the six-year, $141-million contract he signed with the Chicago Bears days before the 2018 season.

His dead cap hit will drop (from $13.5 million in 2022) to $9 million in 2023 and $4.5 million in 2024.

Khalil Mack career earnings: $109,695,498

7. Chandler Jones, Las Vegas Raiders

After six years in Arizona, Chandler Jones signed a three-year, $51-million deal that’ll pay him at least $17 million annually from 2022-24.

If he plays out the entirety of the deal, he’ll have nearly $150 million in career earnings.

Chandler Jones career earnings: $149,907,510

8. Leonard Floyd, Los Angeles Rams

Leonard Floyd has a small base salary ($1.5 million) and a modest cap hit ($8 million) in the second year of a four-year, $64-million deal. But the former top-10 pick will earn at least $16 million for the second straight year.

Floyd’s teammates Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald sit atop rankings for highest-paid NFL quarterback, highest-paid NFL wide receiver, and highest-paid NFL defensive linemen.

Leonard Floyd career earnings: $41,876,577

9. De’Vondre Campbell, Green Bay Packers

De’Vondre Campbell’s ascension from unwanted free agent to First-Team All-Pro netted him a five-year, $50-million contract with $15 million guaranteed.

De’Vondre Campbell career earnings: $12,849,787

10(t). Bud Dupree, Tennessee Titans

Bud Dupree has a cap hit of only $5.1 million in 2021, the first year of a five-year, $82.5-million contract.

That number exploded to $19.2 million in 2022, most of which comes from a base salary of $16 million. The remainder is a $3.2-million signing bonus.

Bud Dupree career earnings: $52,256,334

10(t). C.J. Mosley, New York Jets

C.J. Mosley finally played a full season in 2021 after missing all of 2020 (opt out) and all but two games in 2019 (injury). He has three years remaining on a five-year, $85-million deal that includes a dead cap hit of only $3 million in 2023 (down from $20.5 million in 2022).

C.J. Mosley career earnings: $52,656,002

10(t). Shaquil Barrett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Approximately half of Shaq Barrett’s four-year, $68-million contract is guaranteed. He’s in the second year of the deal, which will pay him $16 million in 2022, $15 million in 2023, and $17 million in 2024.

Shaquil Barrett career earnings: $47,146,611